Personal Injury Law

Baby Lotions, Shampoos, and Powder Can Expose Children to Chemicals

By Jenny Albano

According to a study, baby shampoos, lotions and powders may expose young children to chemicals that are linked with potential reproductive problems. The chemicals are called phthalates and can be found in numerous products such as cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring and medical supplies. Phthalates are for stabilizing fragrances and making plastics flexible. The study found higher than normal levels in infant's urine who had recently shampooed, powdered or lotioned with baby products.

Phthalates (pronounced thowl-ates) are under attack by some environmental advocacy groups, but experts are uncertain what dangers, if any, they might pose. The federal government doesn't limit their use, although California and some countries have restricted their use. Animal studies have suggested that phthalates can cause reproductive birth defects and some activists believe they may cause reproductive problems in boys and early puberty in girls.

The study did not actually find evidence that the baby products used by these infants contained the chemical, and there has been no evidence that the chemical caused the children any harm. But the results worry groups that are for restriction of the chemical.

The chemical phthalates is normally not listed on product labels because retailers are not required to list all the ingredients of fragrances. But parents can look for products labeled with "phthalate-free," or check labels for common phthalates, including DEP and DEHP.

The FDA has not found any evidence that phthalates pose a safety risk when used in cosmetics and the CDC says the health effects in humans is not certain.

The new study, which appears in February's issue of the journal Pediatrics, involved 163 babies. Most were white, ages 2 to 28 months and living in California, Minnesota and Missouri. The researchers measured levels of several phthalates in urine from diapers. They also asked the mothers about use in the previous 24 hours of baby products including lotions, powders, diaper creams and baby wipes.

All of the urine samples had at least one phthalate, and most had levels of many more but the highest levels were linked with the baby shampoos, lotions and powders, and were found most in infants 8 months or younger. Unfortunately, the study did not test the products for the chemical or control for other ways of exposure.

Full post as published by Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer on February 05, 2008 (boomark / email).